The plan to damage my image by making arrogant remarks and revealing the mana fuel rod had failed for three reasons.
First, I’d done such a good job building up my reputation. With the positive image I’d established, people were inclined to overlook a few cocky comnts.
Second, this was Arica. In Korea, people would have berated endlessly for wasting money on a mana fuel rod, saying things like “Do you know what you could buy with that?” But here, they saw expensive gear as a mark of skill. No one criticized for using sothing high-end—especially since it wasn’t Arican money.
And as Kong pointed out, the third reason was…
"Aricans love macho stuff. They go nuts for that 'badass' vibe."
"Oh."
Arican tastes were different from those in Korea, which, thanks to the headmaster, upheld modesty as a virtue. Here, modesty wasn’t well-regarded; they found direct, macho talk far more attractive.
"This place is the complete opposite of ho. They constantly pester about my identity, treating like I’m gay. If it wasn’t for the money…."
"……."
'No wonder he knows so much; this sounds like a story borne from bitter experience.'
Hearing it from a current sufferer really drove it ho.
I had to admit my plan was dood from the start. Instead of lowering my likability, I’d accidentally boosted it.
"So, you might as well take my spot at S-rank, apprentice!"
"How can an apprentice…."
"Indigo dye is deeper than indigo. I hold no grudge, so keep moving forward!"
Completely oblivious to my struggle, my master was all smiles, innocently congratulating on my accomplishnts. Adorable as always. Best master in the world. Love you.
-*Mumbling.*
"A man stronger than … ideal husband material…."
"Raising him to devour him? Before that deviant can make a move, I’d better…."
Apparently, Master and Alice were muttering sothing off to the side.
-*Snicker.*
"You tried, Yoojin."
"Ha…."
anwhile, Shia scoffed in amusent, and Kong shook his head in disbelief.
"……."
-*Ding.*
-[Upper skill '???' chuckles as if expecting this.]
-[Skill 'Complete Hypnosis' sighs deeply, resigning itself to more work soon.]
Next to Kong, the Saintess wore a gentle smile. Probably unrelated to anything I was doing, but still.
* * *
The next while passed peacefully.
"You returned with a monster from inside the gate? An unidentified one at that? This is problematic, Mr. Kong. There’s no telling what it might do…."
-*Trembling.*
"Did you just call the Saintess a monster, as a re assistant secretary?"
"Um, no, that’s not what I ant…."
"So, this is the stance of the Secretary of Defense? Of the Morrison administration, that our church’s Saintess is a ‘monster’? Please, clarify."
"That’s not what I…."
The issue with the Saintess was soon resolved by High Priest Ellington, who scolded the officials into submission.
-*Cling, petting.*
"……."
'Why does she keep sticking to ?'
As a result, the Saintess was back on top of my head. Not by choice, of course—she just insisted on clinging to .
I really wanted to pry her off, but…
"Um… would you mind… getting down…?"
-*Ding.*
-[Upper skill '???'….]
"Saint Yoojin? You wouldn’t dare harbor resentnt toward the Saintess, would you?"
"Yikes."
The high priest, who had been berating the officials monts before, gave a sharp look, eyes glowing with fanatical reverence, as if to say, "Surely you’re not displeased with our Saintess?"
So I kept my complaints to myself, even during the banquet held in the East Room of the White House in honor of the assault team.
I couldn’t even tell whether food was going into my mouth or up my nose.
"Should I call you Saintess? Here, you can have so. Say, 'ah.'"
"……."
-[Upper skill '???' smiles, finding this endearing.]
-[Generously declines, saying it’s full just watching you eat.]
'Definitely not human, just like the monsters in the gate.'
The realization that the thing on my head wasn’t human was… unsettling. Just what is she?
"High Priest Ellington, just what is the Saintess… supposed to be?"
"The Saintess is the Saintess. She is blessed with the love of the Lord God, a truly wondrous being."
"What does that even…."
"Of course, it cannot compare to the love bestowed upon you, Saint Yoojin!"
My probing yielded little.
It was the sa as I’d heard back in Korea: the Saintess was a being blessed by the Lord God, so revered by devout believers that they would shed tears upon seeing her. But compared to , apparently, she paled.
"It’s a bit sacrilegious to say, but… she feels like an empty shell at tis."
"An empty shell?"
"Yes. Comparing her to you, Saint Yoojin, it becos quite clear."
As expected of a high priest, he did offer sothing new. According to him, the Saintess felt like an empty shell—a bottle without its wine, while I was full to the brim.
‘Still just vague talk, though.’
-*Slide.*
"Thank you for the explanation. I’ll be right back."
"Huh? Yoojin, where are you going?"
"Just to the restroom. Saintess, you should co down for a bit."
"……."
-*Hop.*
"Good girl. Be right back~."
Feeling quite full, I decided to take a breather in the restroom to gather my thoughts.
My wives wouldn’t be joining , since they don’t go to the restroom with guys, and Kong was the type to go alone. The Saintess didn’t seem interested in following to the bathroom either, hopping off without hesitation.
For the first ti in ages, I was alone.
"Excuse ? I want to go to the toilet…."
"Understood. Follow ."
Of course, not *truly* alone.
It wasn’t like I could wander the White House unescorted. An employee had to accompany .
It was no big deal, really. A regular staff mber guiding was hardly a burden…
-*Step, step.*
"—Mr. Yoojin Seo. President Morrison has requested a private audience with you."
"…What?"
It was fine until I heard those words.
Suddenly, it felt overwhelming.
"You’re speaking Korean… wait, that’s beside the point. The president?"
"Yes. As he cannot officially request a eting, we’ve had to arrange it secretly. I apologize for any offense."
"……."
So that was why this muscular “staff mber” had been lingering nearby. They’d been looking for a mont to approach .
I couldn’t help but chuckle in disbelief.
"I’m not offended, but… a private eting? Just the two of us?"
The reason for my disbelief was simple: the president wanted to et .
My ability, *Complete Hypnosis*, allowed to control non-awakeners with no resistance. And he knew that. Yet he wanted to et privately?
Ridiculous. Even Korean politicians wouldn’t take that risk, but the U.S. president?
"Are you serious? Knowing my powers, why would he…."
-*Ding.*
-[Skill 'Complete Hypnosis'….]
"It’s true. I can put you in touch with him imdiately if you wish."
"…Hmm."
The problem was, it likely was true. The Arican president was genuinely trying to reach out to . Secretly. Just the two of us.
"It’s not so cliché proposal to defect to Arica, is it?"
"I’ve received no information suggesting that. If it were, the president would hardly make this much effort."
"…Fine. I’ll et him."
After a brief consideration, I nodded.
Unlike him, I had nothing to lose. I was curious about what he wanted to say.
And so, following the security guard, I made my way across the White House.
"Thank you. This way, please…."
-*Step, step. Flash.*
‘…How many layers of illusion spells are there?’
Passing through layers of magic circles that must have cost a fortune to maintain daily…
-*Hum.*
"A gate?"
"It’s a D-rank gate currently used as a bunker. There are no monsters within, so rest assured."
I followed until we reached a small gate in the basent of the White House.
I hadn’t known such a place existed, even before my regression. Were they really going to show this?
‘Judging by the scale, it must be sothing important.’
The only thing I was certain of was that the president had gone to great lengths to et , even revealing this top-secret shelter to .
Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, and the scene before shifted in an instant.
-*Flash.*
"…They really went all out decorating this place."
"It’s the president’s private quarters."
Despite being a gate, the interior resembled a luxury hotel, complete with special forces soldiers prepared to handle any threats.
The carpet stretched in a straight line, leading toward the only place free of monster spawns: the boss room.
After a sigh, I headed toward it.
-*Stop.*
"I’ll go no further. I’m not authorized to enter the boss room."
"What’s in there, exactly?"
"I couldn’t tell you. Only the chief of staff, the president, and a few high-ranking officials would know."
The guard who had
escorted thus far stopped, watching from the entrance.
So, I was left alone in front of the teleportation magic circle. In front of the secret office of the world’s most powerful leader.
Taking another step forward, I entered the boss room.
-*Step… flare.*
"…?!!"
"Welco, Sir Yoojin Seo."
There, waiting for , was the Arican president, whom I’d only seen on TV a few tis. Though his Korean was a bit awkward, it was clear.
But I couldn’t even register my surprise.
Because what I saw next shocked far more than his Korean.
-*Struggle, struggle.*
"———!!!"
A woman bound in restraints, papers piled before her, hands convulsing as she scrawled frantically.
And lastly… an overwhelming surge of mana, at a level that could only be described as S-rank.
"Where is all that mana coming from…?"
"Her codena is 'Sibyl.' She is an S-rank awakener held by the United States."
The U.S., famous for not having any S-rank awakeners, had just unveiled their hidden weapon to .
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